Toy
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk and metallic thread embroidery on silk satin and float-patterned plain-weave silk
Dimensions
Overall (a): 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (7 x 3.8 cm) Overall (b): 10 x 4 in. (25.4 x 10.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Florance Waterbury, 1967
Accession Number
67.179.18a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate embroidered "Toy" from China's Qing dynasty (16441911), crafted in 19th century, showcases the era's masterful textile artistry. Made with silk and metallic threads on silk satin and floated plain-weave silk it consists of two components: a small piece measuring 2¾ x 1½ inches and a larger one at 10 x 4 inches. Likely a plaything for children or a decorative miniature, its intricate embroidery highlights the Qing period's opulent craftsmanship, where metallic threads added shimmering realism to motifs of men and mythical creatures—evoking folklore heroes and fantastical beings ce...